Ansip: Through Visa Freedom, US shows Its Trust into Estonia

Tallinn, Stenbock House, 17 October 2008 – Prime Minister Andrus Ansip welcomes today’s US application regarding Estonia joining the United States’ visa freedom programme. According to Ansip, the extension of the USA’s visa freedom is significant for Estonia, since through that decision the US shows great trust into Estonia and its citizens.

“The expansion of visa freedom and the additional security cooperation
that it brings with it is a due continuation of our close mutual
relations: we are allies not only on paper, but also in our actions,”
said Andrus Ansip. The Prime Minister estimates that the USA’s reformed
visa freedom programme makes transatlantic travel safer than before and
simpler for Estonian citizens.

“Today we achieved a goal,
which we have pursued for the last three years, and for which we have
done a remarkable amount of work,” said Ansip, adding that despite
achieving that goal, Estonia believes that it is important that all of
the European member states join the US visa freedom programme, and
intends to work towards that goal both bilaterally with the US and
through supporting joint endeavours of the European Union.